Uber in Santo Domingo

[Wishing you well]

maybe if the locals are honest but i been F^^^^^ to many times , its huber here me and the h### with the locals.

There are many trusted and cheap options - Apollo probably been the best of all. Inexpensive, safe and reliable, plus - by using them, money is put back in to the local economy as opposed to patronize a big franchise squeezing the juice out of the lemon.

 

[IslandDreaming]

It's been said many times on DR1 that Uber doesn't work very well to or from the airport as the fixed tariff is too low for the drivers. I have personally had 3 cars turn up and refuse to take me and nearly missed my flight as a result. Just not worth risking using Uber for airport runs, but every other destination in the capital works very well.

Do they (Uber) operate differently than in the States? In Florida/NYC the driver knows the intended route prior to pick up and can decline the fare

 

[Mcinbrass]

Do they (Uber) operate differently than in the States? In Florida/NYC the driver knows the intended route prior to pick up and can decline the fare

No differently except they charge you in local currency pesos which is converted into US dollars by your bank

 

[IslandDreaming]

No differently except they charge you in local currency pesos which is converted into US dollars by your bank

sorry, guess I was confusing what I was asking is, If the driver knows ahead of time where you are going, why does he drive to your location and then refuse you?

 

[Mcinbrass]

sorry, guess I was confusing what I was asking is, If the driver knows ahead of time where you are going, why does he drive to your location and then refuse you?

They don't know until they pick you up and start route. Thats when it turned ugly with this guy

 

[IslandDreaming]

They don't know until they pick you up and start route. Thats when it turned ugly with this guy

ahh, that's where I was confused The times I have used Uber in US, the driver already knows the destination Thanks for info

 

[Mcinbrass]

ahh, that's where I was confused The times I have used Uber in US, the driver already knows the destination Thanks for info

That's incorrect. Even in the US they don't know until they start the route. That's Ubers premise a ride for everyone. Trust these guys wont be driving for Uber long after a few of these complaints Uber will shot them off

 

[playacaribe2]

That's incorrect. Even in the US they don't know until they start the route. That's Ubers premise a ride for everyone. Trust these guys wont be driving for Uber long after a few of these complaints Uber will shot them off

I think you are both correct with a flaw that can be exploited by Uber drivers who can decline unprofitable routes.

Uber drivers do not know the destination before the trip starts. But, therein lies the flaw.

Many Uber drivers will start the trip (click the Uber App on their phone) not when they pick you up as they are supposed to, but rather just before they arrive. This then tells them your intended destination.

If they do not want the fare because it is unprofitable, many will just drive around until you cancel, because if you do not cancel and they do not pick you up........they are penalized by Uber.

Some as the examples here illustrate, prefer to just refuse the ride and pay the penalty.

It is a flaw both Uber and Lyft are trying to address.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

 

[IslandDreaming]

That's incorrect. Even in the US they don't know until they start the route. That's Ubers premise a ride for everyone. Trust these guys wont be driving for Uber long after a few of these complaints Uber will shot them off

Strange, the few times I have taken Uber to airport they knew destination when picking me up (Florida/USA) Have only used them 2-3 times to airport and a few from airport Maybe this is how they find destination? http://rideordriveuber.com/how-to-find-an-uber-riders-final-destination-before-picking-them-up/

 

[Wishing you well]

This OP is UBER in the DR.

Could we get back to that, those of us who actually live and use UBER here?

 

[RDKNIGHT]

What happened to that famous ‘tipping habit of yours ?

I thought the cash solves all problems Dominican?

I still tip billy boy... money is everything here...

 

[Tarheel]

Of course the Uber drivers in the States know where you are going enroute to picking you up. The APP tells you how much it will cost prior to you asking for a driver. The driver normally confirms where you are going when you get in the car. I'm sure it works differently in the DR. By the way, 850 pesos to the airport (SDQ) is stealing from poor people. 1500 is more fair but still is a low fare.

 

[Wishing you well]

The APP tells you how much it will cost prior to you asking for a driver.

Which is not the same to say that one would know the total cost upfront. That is based on the actual mileage and time so, if the driver wants to make the cost higher, then he just get "lost" for awhile :cheeky:

 

[bigbird]

Which is not the same to say that one would know the total cost upfront. That is based on the actual mileage and time so, if the driver wants to make the cost higher, then he just get "lost" for awhile :cheeky:

and if he gets "lost" for awhile a simple complaint to Uber and Uber will correct the bill accordingly.

 

[bigbird]

Strange, the few times I have taken Uber to airport they knew destination when picking me up (Florida/USA) Have only used them 2-3 times to airport and a few from airport Maybe this is how they find destination? http://rideordriveuber.com/how-to-find-an-uber-riders-final-destination-before-picking-them-up/

I think you onto something Dreamer.

 

[Wishing you well]

and if he gets "lost" for awhile a simple complaint to Uber and Uber will correct the bill accordingly.

And how many folks do it?

 

[bigbird]

and if he gets "lost" for awhile a simple complaint to Uber and Uber will correct the bill accordingly.

And how many folks do it?

I do, and I get a response and a fare adjustment from Uber in less than 24 hours. All one has to do is follow the app and very simple to determine if the driver deviated from the assigned route. No rocket science involved here.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

Uber in the DR is dependent on Dominicans using the service so pricing has to reflect what locals are able and willing to pay. There are not enough foreigners or "wealthy" Dominicans without a jeepeta to keep the service viable on their own. Driver's have to really hustle (as in work hard and smart) to make enough money to pay their costs and make enough to live on.

Only tourist suckers agree to pay tourist taxi prices from the airport or a resort for example. A 15-30 minute ride in an Uber should cost more than a publico or guagua as you are getting more in the way of service/comfort/convenience. However, as understandable as it is that drivers wish to make as much as they can, Uber does not see itself as a primary career for its drivers, more of a way to supplement an existing income when someone has some free time to drive around in circles.

I can understand the reality of driving in congested Santo Domingo day in and day out and how a run to the airport can be a losing proposition. These drivers signed up knowing the deal. They chose to buy the elephant. If they were looking for an horse and settled on an elephant, that's their fault, not the customer's and not the company's. This practice of routinely declining all but the most profitable fares is typically Dominican and will strangle Uber by driving away (pun intended) customers rather than allow the service to grow and be more profitable for everyone. If drivers wish to make $50 for a trip to the airport, they need to get a tourist taxi license and sit under a tree until someone prepared to spend $50 wants to go to the airport.

 

[Wishing you well]

I do, and I get a response and a fare adjustment from Uber in less than 24 hours. All one has to do is follow the app and very simple to determine if the driver deviated from the assigned route. No rocket science involved here.

The time, the effort and the grievances could be saved by just using other services than UBER. Plenty in SDQ, just as efficient and probably cheaper.

Problem is that some of us can't detach from the west, while choosing to live in third world capable places.

Keep clicking on the APP, keep getting annoyed by UBER -- I call Apollo from anywhere in SDQ, at anytime and I get a safe, cheap ride. I help myself and the local economy at the same time.

BTW, of course it isn't rocket science - even you've figured it all out

Also, UBER regardless of circumstances, will not refund monies - one would get credits but never refunds.

No thank you!

 

[Mcinbrass]

The time, the effort and the grievances could be saved by just using other services than UBER. Plenty in SDQ, just as efficient and probably cheaper.

Problem is that some of us can't detach from the west, while choosing to live in third world capable places.

Keep clicking on the APP, keep getting annoyed by UBER -- I call Apollo from anywhere in SDQ, at anytime and I get a safe, cheap ride. I help myself and the local economy at the same time.

BTW, of course it isn't rocket science - even you've figured it all out

Also, UBER regardless of circumstances, will not refund monies - one would get credits but never refunds.

No thank you!

Dominican companies don't give refunds either not even Sirena